Microphytic crust influences on selected physical and hydrologic soil properties were examined at one location in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. Designed experiments were conducted in a sandy loam soil where microphytic crusts were present without the concomitant development of confounding physical or chemical soil conditions. Three treatments were used for all experiments: control, chemically killed (microphytes killed but left in place), and scalped (microphytic crusts mechanically removed). A portable wind tunnel was used to deter-nine if microphytic crusts contribute to soil stability and reduce the erosive effect of wind. Significantly lower threshold friction velocity and greater wind-entrained material were recorded in the scalped treatment than in the control or chemically killed treatments. These results are evidence that microphytic crusts significantly contribute to reducing the erosive force of wind at this site. A dripper system was used in situ to determine if microphytic crusts influence effective saturated hydraulic conductivity. There were no significant differences among treatments. This result is evidence that microphytic crusts have a minimal influence, if any, on effective saturated hydraulic conductivity at this site. Rainfall simulation was used to determine if microphytic crusts influence hydrologic properties of time to ponding, time to runoff, and infiltration capacity. Rainfall was simulated for 90 minutes after runoff began. Simulated rainfall also was used to determine if microphytic crusts influence interrill erosion. Time to ponding and time to runoff were significantly shorter in the control and chemically killed treatments than in the scalped treatment. However, infiltration capacity was not significantly different among treatments during any five-minute period within the 90 minutes that runoff occurred. Microphytic crusts apparently reduce initial entry of water into the soil profile; however, once infiltration has begun, they do not inhibit or enhance infiltration capacity at this site. Interrill erosion was nearly constant from the control treatment throughout simulated rainfall events. Significantly greater interrill erosion occurred in the chemically killed treatment compared to control and scalped treatments. Interrill erosion in the scalped treatment was significantly greater than in the control treatment after 30 minutes and through 90 minutes. These results are evidence that microphytic crusts, when composed of living, undisturbed microphytes, resist the erosive effect of rainfall and contribute to the soil stability of this site.

Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens) is an invasive perennial forb that has become well established in much of the western United States and Canada since the late 1800s. Aminopyralid is a relatively new pyridine carboxylic acid herbicide registered for use on rangelands and has provided excellent control of Russian knapweed in many studies. Research trials were conducted on two adjacent plot sites at Dinosaur National Monument to evaluate the effects of a single spring goat grazing paired with a fall application of aminopyralid at 0, 53, 70, 88, and 105 g ae ha-1 on Russian knapweed control. Russian knapweed density, canopy cover, and biomass were reduced to 0 or near 0 by all rates of aminopyralid, regardless of grazing treatment. Conversely, desirable grass cover and biomass increased at all rates of aminopyralid regardless of grazing treatment. Aminopyralid provided excellent control of Russian knapweed at all rates tested. Desirable perennial grass species have the potential to be injured when growth regulator herbicides are used for broadleaf weed control. Greenhouse trials performed at Utah State University and field trials performed in Logan, UT from 2009&ndash2011 evaluated tolerance and response of six native perennial bunchgrasses to growth regulator herbicides. Grasses used in the study included tall wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, Great Basin wildrye, Indian ricegrass, big bluegrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail. Two rates each of aminopyralid, aminocyclopyrachlor, and clopyralid were evaluated. Herbicide test rates were based on the labeled rate for control of Russian knapweed and other creeping perennials. Tolerance to herbicides varied among grass species. Petri&ndashdish trials showed reductions in root length by all three herbicides in all six speceis 14 days after treatment (DAT). Shoot length was significantly reduced by both rates of aminopyralid (123 and 246 g ae ha-1) and 280 g ai ha-1 of amincyclopyrachlor. The same species were evaluated in the field and greenhouse in response to postemergence applications of the same herbicides. Of the six grass species tested, &lsquoSherman&rsquo big bluegrass appeared to be highly tolerant to aminopyralid, clopyralid, and aminocyclopyrachlor, and &lsquoMagnar&rsquo Great Basin wildrye and Anatone bluebunch wheatgrass appeared to be the most sensitive to aminopyralid and aminocyclopoyrachlor in both the field and the greenhouse.

No description available.

Global agricultural intensification has caused large-scale wildlife declines, but agricultural lands that maintain natural habitats can support healthy wildlife populations and receive significant ecosystem services from these natural communities. However, how on-farm biodiversity results in beneficial ecosystem services is highly variable and is reported to differ among taxa and guilds. One group that has attracted attention for their potential beneficial role in reducing pest abundance are birds. Understanding the role of bird communities and individual species in pest control could be important for managing farms under a low intensity agroecological framework. In New England, farmers are increasingly applying low intensity agricultural practices, and these low intensity farms have high conservation value for bird communities. The value of bird communities to on-farm productivity, however, remains poorly understood. Therefore, we quantified the amount of insect pest control provided by birds to three important crops to New England farmers: brassicas (e.g., kale, broccoli), cucurbits (e.g., squash, cucumber), and Solanaceae (e.g., eggplant, potato). We also examined the role of different songbird species in the provision of pest control in this system. To determine the amount of pest control services provided by birds in this system, we conducted an exclusion experiment at nine low intensity farms in Franklin and Hampshire counties of Massachusetts. Birds were excluded from crops, and pest abundance and leaf damage were compared between exclusion plots and immediately adjacent control plots. In brassica crops, the abundance of imported cabbageworm (Pieris rapae) and diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) were significantly reduced, while cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) was not significantly affected. In cucurbit crops, all life stages of squash bugs (Anasa tristis) were significantly reduced, though striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) populations were not significantly changed. In Solanaceous crops, bird presence caused significantly larger populations of Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) larvae, while the other life stages of Colorado potato beetle and aphids (superfamily Aphidoidea) were not significantly affected. Leaf damage was reduced by bird presence in all three crop types, though this effect was only significant for cucurbits. The varied effects of bird predation in different crop types highlights the need for crop-specific knowledge in applying agroecological pest management in New England. To determine the roles of different bird species in insect pest control, bird diets were studied at 11 low intensity farms in western Massachusetts. DNA metabarcoding was used to determine the frequency of crop pests and pest natural enemies in fecal samples collected from birds on each farm. We found evidence of pest species being consumed in 12.6% of the 737 total fecal samples collected, while pest natural enemies were present in 2.0% of samples. Among bird species, Gray Catbirds and Common Yellowthroats were determined to feed on crop pests significantly more frequently than Song Sparrows, while no bird species effect was found for natural enemy frequency. The only crop pest surveyed in our exclosure experiment which was present in fecal samples was Colorado potato beetle. Though birds preyed on Colorado potato beetle, they also preyed on two known predators of Colorado potato beetle eggs and larvae: Chrysopa oculata and Chrysoperla rufilabris. This provides evidence that the increase in Colorado potato beetle larvae we observed when birds were present was due to ecological release. Combined, our results show that birds provide important, though variable, insect pest control services on low intensity New England farms. Bird predation had primarily beneficial impacts on crops, suppressing abundance of several pest species and decreasing or minimally affecting leaf damage. The effects of bird predation on pest abundance and damage can be integrated into farm management to control insect pests without reliance on expensive, and sometimes damaging, outside inputs like pesticides. Promotion of woody, non-crop habitats on farms can promote species like Gray Catbirds and Common Yellowthroats that feed more frequently on insect pests. Management of New England farmlands for bird pest control may support healthy bird communities and improve agricultural output.

For years the issue of food waste has been recognized and quantified; however, food safety issues often go unrecognized as a source of food waste. One objective of this research is to estimate quantities and monetary value of fruits and vegetables implicated in food safety recalls, and thus wasted. Using publicly available data we identified all recalls involving vegetable or fruit commodities contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, pathogenic E. coli, or Salmonella during 2015-2018. When quantities were provided, monetary value of recalled product was calculated using USDA ERS 2016 average retail prices. Although data limitations only allowed analysis of 17% of the recalls that met the criteria of this study, we estimated an annual loss of 38 million pounds and $61 million in revenue. Overall this shows that food safety issues can result in food waste, therefore mitigation strategies are needed. There are many ways that produce can become contaminated, however contaminated soils are a potential source of produce contamination and treatments to mitigate this risk while maintaining soil health is lacking. Current biofumigation methods that use glucosinolate hydrolysis products in mustard seed meal to control plant pathogens could also be effective against foodborne pathogens in soil. The purpose of this research is to determine the fate of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes in soil treated with Brassica spp seed meal and plant material. Seed meals were successful in reducing pathogen concentrations in soil, significant reductions (p < 0.05) of E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella were observed in soil over 72 hours with the addition of 1.0 and 1.5 g of mustard seed meal. Increasing the seed meal concentration did not significantly (p > 0.05) increase the observed log reduction for L. monocytogenes or Salmonella, reductions ranged from 5.6 – 5.9 log CFU/g. However, for E. coli O157:H7 seed meal concentration was significant (p < 0.05). A 5.7 log CFU/g decrease was observed when 1.5 g of seed meal was used which was larger than 3.5 log CFU/g reduction observed with 1.0 g. Findings suggest that biofumigation with mustard seed meal could potentially be used to reduce E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella in contaminated soil. However, the use of plant material was not as successful as the use of the processed seed meals. In soil or in the absence of soil Brassica spp. plant material at 10% 15%, and 75% significantly increased E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella concentrations (p < 0.05). The results of these studies support literature indicating Brassica spp. processed plant products, like seed meals or extracts may be a more effective strategy in reducing human pathogen concentrations in contaminated agricultural soils. While the process of Biofumigation using Brassica spp. cover crops has been successful in eliminating plant pests from agricultural soils, due to its low isothiocyanate release efficiency and reactivity in soil organic matter, it may not be sufficient as a soil decontamination method against human pathogens.

Compost is commonly used as an organic amendment in cropping systems such as vineyards, and has been shown to be beneficial to carbon (C) sequestration and soil health. As perennial crops, grapevines have a larger potential for C sequestration than most crops. Yet, there is a lack of understanding regarding the relationship between compost application rate, the magnitude of C sequestration, and its environmental tradeoff in the form of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the study, we investigated the effects of compost application rate on soil C sequestration, GHG emissions, crop growth, and overall soil health after two annual compost treatments at J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Paso Robles, CA. Compost was broadcasted to the entire plot area between harvest and the first precipitation in fall at the rate of 0 (control), 2, 4, and 6 tons/acre/year. Soil C sequestration, cumulative carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and soil physical properties were assessed at two functional locations (tractor row and vine row) and three depth increments (0-15, 15-30, and 30-60 cm). Cover crop biomass was determined in spring before mowing, while clusters per vine, cluster weight and yield were determined each year at harvest. Although compost application did not significantly affect total soil C stocks, significant increases in early indicators of C sequestration such as permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), aggregate distribution, and aggregate C content in large macroaggregates without increasing C mineralization suggests that C input from compost increased C stabilization in soil. Cumulative GHG emissions were not significantly affected by compost application. Both CO2 and N2O emissions were higher in the vine row than the tractor row in the dry season, but the trend for CO2 emissions was the opposite in the wet seasons. Seasonal patterns of GHG emissions were likely due to differences in plant activity and irrigation between functional locations. The lower bulk density in topsoil than subsoil, and the higher water holding capacity and aggregate stability in tractor row topsoil than in the vine row demonstrates how high C content improves soil physical properties. Cover crop growth and grape yield components were unaffected by compost application. Based on our results, early signs of C sequestration and improvements on overall soil health can be achieved in a coarse-texture vineyard in the Central Coast region after annually applying compost at a rate between 2 and 6 tons/acre for two years, without increasing GHG emissions or affecting grape yield. Further investigation is recommended to study the potential synergistic effects between compost application and cover cropping in vineyards if both practices are implemented at the same time.

Effects of nitrogen management and cultivar on strawberry production under disease pressure Kamille Garcia-Brucher California strawberry growers face increasing regulatory pressures to manage nitrogen (N) applications in their production system. Standard practice in the California strawberry industry is to apply a synthetic pre-plant controlled release fertilizer (CRF) to ensure the crop has sufficient N during winter establishment. Some research from the UC Cooperative Extension suggests this practice is not efficient at delivering N to the crop since most of the N is released from CRF before strawberry crop N uptake is significant. Another concern for California strawberry growers is loss of their crop to a myriad of soilborne pathogens. Compost is commonly applied as a soil amendment in California strawberry fields as it offers both agronomic and environmental benefits including the potential for disease suppression. In light of legislation restricting N in some California cropping systems, Ag Order 4.0, and incentives programs established to promote soil conservation practices, compost may be a viable substitute for synthetic pre-plant CRF N. In this study, we investigated the effects of pre-plant fertilizer and strawberry cultivar on fruit yield, disease incidence, soil and plant N dynamics and soil carbon (C) at the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, San Luis Obispo, CA in a field infested with Macrophomina phaseolina. Pre-plant fertilizer treatments included 100 lb N/ac Cal Poly certified organic compost, 100 lb N/ac synthetic CRF and a control treatment (0 lb N/ac). Strawberry cultivars included three UC varieties, ‘Monterey,’ ‘Albion,’ and ‘San Andreas,’ and one Driscoll’s proprietary cultivar. Fruit yield and plant mortality data were collected throughout the growing season. Soil C was measured from soil samples collected in the root zone (6 in) while soil nitrate was measured from pore water samples collected in and below the root zone (6 and 12 in, respectively). Strawberry crop N uptake was determined using destructive plant samples while fruit N concentration was determined from subsamples of harvested fruit taken in April, May, June, and July each year. Although compost application did not significantly affect C sequestration and did not reduce disease incidence, there was no significant difference in total yield between compost and CRF treatments suggesting that compost can substitute for synthetic CRF without negatively affecting yield. There was significantly less plant mortality in control treatments compared with compost and CRF treatments suggesting excessive pre-plant N impacts disease incidence by M. phaseolina but more research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of infection by this soilborne pathogen. Total yield in this experiment was lower compared with statewide averages and crop N concentration was lower compared with the literature which is likely a result of disease pressure. Fruit N concentrations for the cultivars in this study were lower than the conversion coefficient defined by the Ag Order which means growers are removing less N through harvest allowing them more room in their N budget. Based on our results, compost may be substituted for synthetic CRF without negatively affecting yield and perhaps even make desirable soil improvements in this production system. And in fields with significant levels of M. phaseolina in the soil, N applications should be considered as it was seen to impact disease incidence. Keywords: compost, controlled release fertilizer, M. phaseolina, nitrogen uptake, Ag Order 4.0

The population and diversity of pollinating insects in Europe are declining, partly due to lossof habitat. In agricultural landscapes, farming practices with more intensified land use haveincreased. In Swedish agricultural habitats, most ley production is dominated by grass and red clover (Trifolium pratense). The aim of this thesis is to assess whether a mixture of native legume species (more diverse than normally being used in ley production) can increase biodiversity of pollinating insects and provide better forage in northern Sweden. Several methods to assess increases in biodiversity of pollinating insects were conducted: (1) observational survey, (2) pollen analysis of bee pollen and honey, (3) legume flower pollencount, (4) nitrogen fixation of legume plants, (5) enrichment of microbes and molecular analysis of nectar and root nodules samples from legumes. Statistically significant differences could be found when testing legume flower pollen and observational data. The pollination ecology of legume mixes in ley production incorporates many different factors that could influence biodiversity of pollination insects. Though this thesis did not find statistically strong indications of increase in biodiversity of pollinating insects, further studies with more observational surveys and possible DNA metabarcoding could shed light regarding if increase of biodiversity of pollinating insects is possible or not regarding ley production habitats innorthern Sweden.

Tortricid moths (Lepidoptera) are known for their outstanding olfaction capabilities that allow them to detect, process, and respond to chemical information emitted by host or non-host plants. Such an ability to filter out odors from the complex mixture to locate their host has allowed researchers and integrated pest management (IPM) practitioners to develop and implement semiochemically-based pest control strategies. The major goal of this study was to evaluate, under field conditions, the response of male and female oriental fruit moth (OFM), codling moth (CM), redbanded leafroller (RBLR) and three lined leafroller (TLLR) to experimental kairomone lures in commercial apple orchards in Massachusetts. My results indicate that (1) addition of benzaldehyde to Megalure® or to TRE2266 significantly increased captures of OFM males but not of CM males, (2) benzaldehyde was a strong male attractant-it was as attractive as Megalure® to OFM males, and (3) TRE2266 attracted significantly more RBLR than any other lure and by adding benzaldehyde it became attractive to TLLR. These findings highlight the opportunity to work with benzaldehyde to develop more efficient semiochemical-based monitoring and control systems for tortricid moths.

Sustainable practices were evaluated for the production of two warm season vegetable crops, tomato and chile peppers. The first study investigated the plant vegetative growth, fruit production timing, yield components and fruit quality of three hybrid and three heirloom tomato cultivars grown in a high tunnel using grafted and non-grafted plants. Grafting the selected tomato cultivars with the two rootstock types did not alter total marketable yield of any cultivar, but affected overall stem diameter, fruit color, and β-carotene concentrations of tested tomato cultivars. The second study evaluated the plant growth, yield, and fruit quality of nine heirloom chile pepper cultivars treated with three types of biostimulants during 2020 and 2021. Biostimulant application did not affect marketable yield in 2020 or 2021, but enhanced fruit quality including fruit length, diameter, and green coloration.